chapter eighteen | unexpected invitation

───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────

Stella Mason's least favorite thing about Winter was how she could never feel her nose. It turned red and runny and she couldn't feel it after a short period of time. Her whole body seemed to easily get cold no matter how many layers of clothing she uses. Stella and her three friends walked alongside her on their trip to Hogsmeade. Snow was blowing in the wind, making it hard to see for the girl, but she just kept on walking.

        "For weeks, you carry around that book. Practically sleep with it," Hermione spoke as they walked the path, "and yet you have no desire to find out who the Half-Blood Prince is."

        "I didn't say I wasn't curious, and I don't sleep with it," defended Harry.

        "Well, it's true," Ron added, "I had a nice chat before I went to bed. Now, all you do is read that bloody book. It's like being with you two."

        Stella simply glared at the boy as he referred to herself and Hermione.

        "Well, I was curious," Hermione spoke curtly, "so I went to—"

        "The library."

        "And?"

        "... And nothing. I couldn't find a reference anywhere to a Half-Blood Prince."

        "That settles it, then," Harry dismissed. They watched Professor Slughorn have a peculiar encounter with Professor Flitwick before hearing he was heading to The Three Broomsticks, "does anyone fancy a butterbeer?"

        The four walked the streets of Hogsmeade as they reached their destination. They walked into the pub where they were blasted with immediate heat, Stella let out a sigh of relief.

        They walked to an empty table where Harry told Ron to sit next to him, for what reason, Stella didn't know. After they ordered, the four settled and looked around the pub, one table catching Ron's eye.

        "Oh, bloody hell," he groaned at the sight in front of him. Ginny and Dean, looking incredibly close, "slick git."

         "Oh, Ron, they're only holding hands," Hermione rolled her eyes, before looking at the table again, "and snogging."

        The Weasley boy grumbled, "I'd like to leave."

        "Really, Ron?"

        "That happens to be my sister," he defended against Stella who sent him a knowing look.

        "So," Hermione shrugged, "what if she looked and saw you snogging me? Would you expect her to get up and leave?"

        That comment made Harry and Stella make eye contact as they held in their laughter. Hermione seemed to realise what she said and began to drink her butterbeer excessively. And Ron simply stared at her, not knowing what to say.

        The silence between the group was interrupted by a voice coming up from behind them, "Harry, my boy," Professor Slughorn greeted. Stella watched as Harry stood to greet the Professor with immense enthusiasm, something he normally wouldn't do, "so wonderful to see you, and you three."

        "You too, sir," Harry smiled while shaking Slughorn's hand, "so, what brings you to The Three Broomsticks?"

        "Oh, The Three Broomsticks and I go way back further than I care to admit," the man shared, chuckling to himself, "I could remember when it was One Broomstick," he then accidentally spilt his drink on both Stella and Hermione, who jumped, "All hands on deck, girls," they dismissed him politely, "listen, my boy, in the old days, I used to throw together the occasional supper party, I select a student or two. Would you be game?"

        Harry nodded extensively, "I'd consider it an honor, sir."

        "You'd be welcome too, Granger, Mason."

        Stella smiled at the man, "we'd be delighted, sir."

        "Splendid! Look for my owl," Slughorn expressed. He then turned to Ron, "good to see you, Wallenby."

        Stella laughed softly as the Professor took his leave. Ron's expression, however, turned sour.

        "What are you playing at?"

        Harry looked around the pub before he answered his best friend, "Dumbledore asked me to get to know him."

         "Get to know him," asked Stella with furrowed brows.

        He shrugged, "dunno. It must be important. If it wasn't, Dumbeldore wouldn't have asked."

        As the four finished their drinks, they got bundled up and braced themselves for the cold. Hermione, however, seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. The four walked along as two students, Katie Bell and Leanne, as Stella knew them, walking in front of them, seemingly in an argument. It wasn't until they heard a scream did they stop in their tracks.

        "I warned her," Leanne shook as she spoke to the four over the wind, "I warned her not to touch it."

        Suddening, Katie rose into the air, her mouth and arms wide open, her hair whipping from the storm. Stella gasped in horror as Katie dropped to the ground with a thud as she was dragged through the snow.

        "Don't get any closer," the four jumped when they heard Hagrid's booming voice come up from behind them. He rushed to the girl as the others watched on.

        Stella noticed Harry drew closer to the object and grabbed his hand, "don't touch it, Harry," just as Hagrid told them not to touch anything but the wrappings it came in.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

        "Why is it, when something bad happens, it is always you three," Professor McGonagall said to the four students in front of her. Katie Bell was transported out of Hogwarts and taken to St. Mungo's for proper treatment. Now, they were in the woman's office, seeing as they were witnesses. Leanne had just explained to the Professor what had happened and was dismissed. Now, it was their turn. Stella Mason was standing in front of her Head of House with her head down and her hand behind her back. She had never gotten in trouble before, if you didn't count the DA, she didn't at least, "of course, I'm not counting Miss Mason as this is the first time she has been sent to this office."

        "Believe me, Professor," Ron spoke, timidly, "I've been asking myself that for six years."

        Professor Snape then walked in the office, looking at the scene in front of him with bored, yet curious, eyes. After he greeted his colleague, he picked up the necklace with his wand and observed it.

        "What do you think?"

        "I think, Miss Bell, is lucky to be alive," the man answered his fellow teacher.

        "She was cursed wasn't she," asked Harry from next to Stella, "I know Katie. Off the Quidditch pitch, she wouldn't hurt a fly. If she was delivering that to Professor Dumbledore, she wasn't doing it willingly."

        "Yes, she was cursed," McGonagall nodded.

        "It was Malfoy."

        The other three students all showed, not with their mouths, but with their expressions, how they thought their friend shouldn't have said that.

        "That is a very serious accusation, Potter," McGonagall said in shock.

        "Indeed," Snape agreed slowly, "your evidence?"

        "I just know."

        "You just... know," Snape mockingly repeated, "once again, I'm astonished with your gifts, potter. Gifts mere mortals can only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One."

        No one responded to Snape's comment. The stare match between the student and the professor was jarring. Professor McGonagall finally cleared the tense air and dismissed the four friends from her office. The four walked back to the Gryffindor common room in silence.

───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────

don't be a silent reader!
edited: 6 april 2021